Now accepting referrals in the Greater Perth area, with little to no wait time expected

Shaped by Lived Experience

WA’s Leader in Neurodiversity-Affirming, Trauma-Informed Behaviour Support

What is Positive Behaviour Support

Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) is an evidence-based approach used to improve a person’s quality of life and reduce the frequency of intense distress. It is grounded in the understanding that all actions are a form of communication.


When someone’s environment, sensory needs, or emotional health are not being met, they may react in ways that are difficult for them or the people around them. PBS works by identifying these "unmet needs" and changing the world around the person to make it a safer, easier place to live.


The core mechanics of PBS include:

  • Understanding the "Why": We look at the history, health, and environment of the individual to see what is triggering distress.
  • Proactive Strategies: We change the environment (lighting, noise, routines) and communication styles to prevent overwhelm before it starts.
  • Skill Development: We help the individual learn new ways to express their needs and navigate big emotions.
  • Reducing Restrictions: A primary goal of PBS is to move away from "controlling" a person and toward creating a life of freedom and safety.


What is "WAVES" Positive Behaviour Support

At Waves WA, we take the clinical framework of PBS and "Wavify" it. We don't believe in being "the experts" who fix people. Instead, we are partners who walk alongside you.


How we do it differently:

  • We Relate, We Don’t Just Study: Our team is led by neurodivergent people and carers. We know what burnout feels like, and we know that a "strategy" is only good if it actually works during a meltdown on a Tuesday afternoon.
  • Neuroaffirming to the Core: We are strictly Non-ABA. We do not use rewards, punishments, or forced compliance to make a person "fit in." We believe the world should adapt to you, not the other way around.
  • Focus on Regulation, Not Compliance: Success for us isn't a "quiet" person who follows orders; it’s a person who feels regulated in their nervous system and safe in their own skin.
  • A "Being With" Philosophy: In the beginning, we focus on connection over correction. We spend time simply "being with" you to build trust before we ever suggest a strategy.
  • Systemic Advocacy: We know your life involves more than just a home. We take our "Wavified" approach into schools, justice systems, and mental health wards to ensure the people there see the human, not the "behaviour."


In short: PBS is the map, but Waves is the way we navigate the journey - with empathy, lived experience, and a commitment to your autonomy.

What Makes Waves PBS Different

At Waves WA, we don’t just work from textbooks; we work from life. We know that real support requires a balance of professional skills and human understanding.


Lived experience that matters

We aren’t just looking in from the outside. Our team is led by neurodivergent individuals and parents raising children with disabilities. We bring the kind of personal insight that can’t be taught in a classroom—we understand the mental load, the systemic hurdles, and the daily reality because we live it too.


Positive Behaviour Support you can trust

We provide evidence-based strategies that are genuinely neuroaffirming. We don't focus on "fixing" people; we focus on adapting environments and building safety. By combining our professional clinical knowledge with our lived experience, we create plans that actually work in the real world.


Kindness and practical solutions

We know that life doesn't happen in a clinical office. We focus on realistic, day-to-day solutions that fit into your family's flow. We celebrate every win—big or small—because we know exactly how much effort goes into every single one of them.


A team with diverse expertise

Our strength lies in our variety. The Waves team includes autism specialists, educators, counsellors, psychologists, and researchers. This mix allows us to look at your unique situation from every angle, combining deep research with practical, "on-the-ground" understanding.


Support for every journey

We have extensive experience walking alongside people in the most complex and high-pressure systems. This includes:

Systemic Navigation: Supporting those involved with corrective services, mental health systems, and child protection.

Culturally Safe Care: Providing meaningful, trauma-informed support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and CALD communities.


Life doesn’t fit into 9–5

We know that crises and challenges don’t keep office hours. We offer flexible scheduling because we believe support should work around your world, not the other way around.

What Your Time With Waves Looks Like

Phase 1: Connection and Understanding

The first few weeks are all about building a relationship and understanding your world. Our initial session is informal - we don’t "assess" you; we simply listen to your story, your preferences, and what truly matters to you.


During this time, we begin building the foundation of your Support Plan. If there are immediate safety concerns, we will also work with you to create a Risk Assessment that prioritises regulation and care.


Face-to-Face Sessions: Initially, we usually meet weekly or fortnightly. We focus on "being with" rather than "doing." We believe strategies only work once a foundation of trust has been established. If funding allows it, we can continue this momentum.


Interim Support Plan (IBSP): If needed, we’ll create an Interim Plan around weeks 3–4. This provides immediate guidance for your support network so they can support you confidently while we get to know each other better. This plan usually takes around 10–15 hours to write and is a temporary document designed to immediately manage high-risk behaviours, ensure safety, and guide support workers.


Phase 2: Learning and Trialling

Once we have a strong connection, our sessions may move to a monthly rhythm. In this phase, we move deeper into understanding the "why" behind certain challenges.


Instead of just "collecting data," we observe and learn alongside you to see what strategies actually feel right in your daily life. We trial different approaches to see what helps you feel most regulated and supported.


Phase 3: Your Comprehensive Map

With everything we’ve learned together, we create a Comprehensive Behaviour Support Plan. This isn't just a clinical document; it’s a deep, respectful map of your strengths, sensory needs, and specific guidance for the people around you. A Comprehensive Plan will take approximately 20 hours to write.


Once the plan is ready, we provide dedicated training for your support team (family, carers, or staff) to ensure they can implement the strategies in a way that respects your autonomy and choice.


Phase 4: Flow and Review

After your plans are in place, our support becomes a steady, less frequent presence. We focus on monitoring how things are going, reviewing progress, and updating the plan as your life evolves.


We always encourage feedback to ensure our support remains person-centred. As you approach the end of your NDIS plan, we complete End-of-Plan Reports several weeks in advance to ensure your funding and support continue without a hitch.